I am sure there is nothing to worry about, still canceritis will have my brain in a stew until that all-clear postcard comes in the mail. The tech said I was a "real pro" at putting up with the squishing and maneuvering to make sure as much tissue was in the picture as possible. She said she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. So, now I have to schedule an annual visit to the oncologist and my "60,000 mile check up" will be complete. Saw new PCP this year (previous one is doing rounds at local hospital). New doc was pleasant, but not thorough enough for my liking. Have had my teeth cleaned and "look, Ma, no cavities!" Learned that my former dentist, whom I saw since I was 9, is doing very well in his battle with bone cancer. Stem cell treatment apparently worked. Had my eyes checked, and while vision is not as good as it was, I can get by with existing lense. HOWEVER, I have cataracts in both eyes. Surgery will improve vision, but I will still need glasses because of anstigmatism. <sigh> Another big decision to make. Sorry to ramble. TIA for good thoughts and positive vibes while we wait on mammogram report. Hugs and Love, Lauri

"Go confidently into the direction of your dreams. Live the life you always imagined" Thoreau

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Love it, you really go whole hog for your 60,000 mile check up don't you? Eyes, teeth, the whole works. Which reminds me I need to call for a dental appt to have teeth checked and cleaned. Glad all is checking out so well for you. Are you going to have cataract surgery? It amazes me how easy it seems. It sounds so scary to me. But I can't put eye drops in my own eyes, have to have DH do it, because I cannot keep my eye open while I squeeze the bottle. LOL. Celebrate your great check up. Hugs MK

The cataract surgery scares the crap out of me, too, MK. I am hoping to postpone it for a while, but a friend of mine had hers done several years ago and is thrilled with the results. And she is several years younger than I am. So... I was most concerned about passing the eye exam to renew my drivers licence this summer, but the eye doctor assures me I should pass. If I don't he said he would sign off that I see well enough. We shall see what happens. It was funny how all my appointments sort of clustered around the same time of the year. DH wants me to get as much taken care of as possible before he turns 65 in October and goes on Medicare and a supplimental insurance. We are not sure what the company's retiriement plan will offer in the way of insurance for younger spouses. Whatever it is, it will probably cost more than we are paying now for less coverage. <sigh> Thanks for the support and good wishes. Hugs, Lauri

"Go confidently into the direction of your dreams. Live the life you always imagined" Thoreau

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Lauri we are in the same position. If DH retires we will have much less insurance, but right now even the retirement plan is not bad. The problem is things can change so easily. The company he worked for in OH went bust when we moved to TX and part of his retirement (from there) is under the Pension Guarantee Trust that they are allowing United Airlines to default to. It stinks, what little bit he gets from there is so much smaller than what I get from the school system, yet he made four times what I made or more back then. So no matter what you can't trust pension plans all that much. I got all my dental work done before I left wor, almost. I expected to work a couple more years, but fortunately 3/4 of it was done while I had good insurance and could use tax free cafeteria plan money. I finished up the last quarter so now all I should need is cleaning and any minor problem repair. So you are right to be getting stuff done now. I have known really old people have successful cataract surgery. Even tho it seems scary they say it is not that bad. Hugs MK

Ladies, you don't know how much this thread has warmed my heart. It's so good to hear about all of the "other" parts wearing out.

To add to all of it, last Fri, I had a morning dental appointment for a filling and an afternoon dental appointment to extract a tooth that had already broken into pieces. (We won't mention what long-term chemo does to the teeth.)

I saw the onc two weeks ago and he lied. Now he won't let me stop taking Arimidex when I told him I had chosen to stop it.

I can't see worth a cr@p but think it's the diabetes. If I lose one more degree in my left eye, the great State of Texas will not allow me to drive at night. Who cares? I don't drive at night as it is cause I can't see.

Today, I had a bone density test and extensive x-rays of my lower spine and hips. I'm hoping they find out why I'm in so much pain. My internist heard from my onc.

The retarded bee is back again this year and I need a new bee catcher. I'm going to use pink tulle this year. I have a new camera so I will be taking pictures. MK says my neighbors must think I'm nuts but I'm sure they already know that.

I have tried and tried to deal with the fire ants using only organic products. As soon as the winds are gone, I'm feeding them with a chemical poison. I won't use it near where I plant the garden but I've lost my patience with everything lately. In fact, my new hero is Oscar the Grouch. I sure know where he's coming from.

Long may our complaints not include b/c. It just means that, despite all of the odds, we really are getting older.

Love, Jo-Ann

PS - And this from a woman given nine months to live in 1996, 20% chance to make five years after that, and then only a 10% chance to make the next five. We're at 9.4 and counting.